Watch: Trudeau asked about Trump, pauses for 20 seconds

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/281245

The Canadian leader, however, did not offer an immediate answer and chose to be silent for more than 20 seconds.

Finally, he said, "We all watch in horror and consternation what’s going on in the United States. It is a time to pull people together, but it is a time to listen, it is a time to learn what injustices continue despite progress over years and decades. But it is a time for us as Canadians to recognize that we too have our challenges, that black Canadians and racialized Canadians face discrimination as a lived reality every single day."

Trudeau continued by speaking about the systemic discrimination racialized Canadians face within Canada, but did not directly speak about Trump’s position on the issue of the violent protests or even mention him by name.

 

Dana Perino says Trump's visit to St. John's Church was a good idea, but 'not executed well'

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dana-perino-trump-visit-st-johns-church

 fox says peaceful demonstrators can not be trusted but trump has done another "perfect" job

Co-host Dana Perino called Trump's visit to the church a great idea that was "not executed well."

"I don't think that people intended to use it as a photo op. I believe that the president was trying to show resilience, that America is not going to be taken over by people who would actually set fire to St. John's," Perino said. " ... The execution of all of that became the story today when we should really ... talk about the actual horrible destruction of America's great cities, especially New York City."

During the brief visit to the boarded-up church -- part of which was set on fire the night before -- Trump posed for the cameras while holding up a Bible.

Before Trump left the White House, authorities used smoke canisters and pepper balls to clear the park of protesters.

Co-host Jesse Watters dismissed the criticism that peaceful protesters were attacked, claiming that they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt after many American cities have been ravaged by riots and looting.

"They've shown no ability to be trusted at this point, killing cops now, punching people in the face for no reason. They're trying to protest violence against an innocent man, and yet they're committing violence on innocent men and women. It's disgusting. This country has had enough of it," Watters said. "And this fake scandal is just another frame job of the president while the rest of the country agrees with everything he did."

Police brutality prompted the protests. In some cities, the police response only proved the protesters' point

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/02/us/police-protests-use-of-force/index.html

In some cases, police leaders say violence in the streets leaves them with no other choice. And President Trump has pushed for local officials to ramp up their show of force. But protesters and police critics argue that some officers are escalating tensions with their actions.

"They're making the argument for the demonstrators, that American policing remains unreformed and out of control," says Alex Vitale, a professor of sociology at Brooklyn College who studies police response to protest.

He says the firing of tear gas is one telling example of the ways police are not only inflaming tensions in the streets, but bolstering the case he and other critics have been making.

"This is a gross overreaction," he says.

Republicans chastise Trump for ousting protesters, church photo-op

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/02/republican-criticism-trump-ousting-protesters-church-photo-op-296521

"It was painful to watch peaceful protesters be subjected to tear gas in order for the president to go across the street to a church that I believe he’s attended only once," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). "I thought that the president came across as unsympathetic and as insensitive to the rights of people to peaceful protest."

George Floyd death: Trump's church visit shocks religious leaders

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52890650

Last night he held a Bible in front of St John's Episcopal Church, just across the road from the White House. Today, he'll visit the Shrine to St John Paul II, also in Washington DC.

James Martin, a Jesuit priest and consultant to the Vatican's communications department, tweeted: "Let me be clear. This is revolting. The Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. God is not your plaything."

Will Americans ever forgive Trump for his heartless lack of compassion?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/05/will-americans-forgive-trump

One’s heart goes out to the reporters who have sifted through the Donald Trump’s press briefings on the current pandemic – hour after hour of bombast, self-promotion, vitriol, lies and recklessly unscientific speculation – for any evidence of sympathy for those who are in pain. It’s hardly a shock to learn that our president’s expressions of care and compassion have occupied a total of less than five minutes, out of all that time.

 

Reporter's Notebook 2020 Time Capsule Carlos Barria / Reuters Sort Notes Newest First Oldest First Show 1 Newer Notes James Fallows 11:24 AM / May 4, 2020 2020 Time Capsule #17: ‘Empathy and Simple Kindness’

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2020/05/2020-time-capsule-17-empathy-and-simple-kindness/611092/

1) “Empathy and Simple Kindness.” This past Saturday, former President George W. Bush released a brief video whose subtweeted message was unmistakable. It recognized the suffering of those who had lost family members, or economic prospects, or hope itself; it emphasized the all of us rather than the us and them response to national crisis; and it appealed to the generous rather than the resentful in human nature.

 

President Trump’s Big Moment in Front of a Church Shows He Has Missed the Point of the Protests

https://time.com/5846449/trump-church-protests/

As Trump began to speak in the Rose Garden, tear gas canisters could be heard being launched into the crowd across the park, and the sounds of bangs and screams carried over the treetops and punctuated his remarks. Trump began with three sentences about Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer kept his knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. “All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd,” Trump said, adding that his Administration “is fully committed that for George and his family justice will be served. He will not have died in vain.” 

For the rest of Trump’s six minute and forty-two second speech, the President did not mention or commit to solve the main grievance of the protestors being noisily gassed outside: the frequency of killings of unarmed black men and women by police officers across the country. Instead, he pivoted to his central point of the night projecting himself as the defender of order. “We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protestors to be drowned out by an angry mob,” he said. “I will fight to protect you. I am your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protestors.”

Trump responds to protests with a strongman act

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/02/politics/donald-trump-george-floyd-protest-military/index.html

While he mentioned Floyd -- who died a week ago in the latest example of police brutality against black Americans -- in his address, it was only in passing in a speech dedicated to fostering the impression of tough guy leadership. He made no attempt to soothe the anger, fear and alienation stalking the nation. Trump, who has a record of racist rhetoric in and out of office, gave little sign he appreciates that black men and women believe that their country, amid some instances of brutal policing, sees their lives as cheap.

'I can't breathe:' Death of unarmed black man George Floyd leads to firing of white police officers

RODNEY KING BEATING VIDEO Full length footage SCREENER

Trump Can’t Designate Antifa — or Any Movement — Domestic Terrorist Organization

https://www.factcheck.org/2020/06/trump-cant-designate-antifa-or-any-movement-domestic-terrorist-organization/

 

“There’s no legal process or meaning” for what the president said, Patel told us. “He’s reflecting on the process that we use for foreign terrorist organizations.”

The secretary of state has the legal authority to designate groups as foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. The federal government makes those FTO designations through a six-step process involving the State Department and other agencies. The designations enable the federal government to freeze assets, prosecute individuals for aiding those groups and restrict immigration for members of those groups, as the Government Accountability Office explains.

Ann Coulter Turns on ‘Disloyal Actual Retard’ Trump in Twitter Rant

https://www.thewrap.com/ann-coulter-turns-on-disloyal-actual-retard-trump-in-twitter-rant/

 

Ann Coulter went on an early Sunday morning Twitter tear, calling President Donald Trump “the most disloyal actual retard that has ever set foot in the Oval Office.”

The far-right media pundit and former Trump defender was triggered by the president’s Friday tweet in which he called for Alabama voters to “not trust Jeff Sessions” and instead put their support behind Sessions’ Republican Senate seat challenger, football coach Tommy Tuberville.

Trump says he supports the troops. His record suggests otherwise.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/05/05/trump-says-he-supports-troops-his-record-says-otherwise-our-view/4870524002/

Historically, American soldiers have tended to be more conservative and Republican-leaning than the population at large. Yet polls suggest that troops are beginning to sour on this GOP president. Since Trump's election, the percentage of service members disapproving of his performance has gone from a third to half of the nation's fighting force.

Given his record of disrespect toward the military and its values, the surprise is that it isn't higher.